Controlling means for engine-generator-driven vehicles.



y H. LEMP. CONTROLLING MEANS FOR ENGINE GENERATOR DRIVEN VEHICLES.

MI'UCATLON FILED JUNE 24- I914.

Patented Feb. 13,1917.

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-of the field of the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMANN LEMP, 0F ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN OR TO GENERAL ELECTRICCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR ENGINE-GENERATOR-DRIVEN VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

Application filed June 24, 1914. Serial No. 847,135.

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controlling Meansfor EngineGeneratoi Driven Vehicles, of which the followinglis aspecification.

There are in use at the present time selfpropelled vehicles in which aninternal combustion engine is arranged to drive an electric generatorwhich in turn supplies current to one or more electric motors fordriving the vehicle. These motors are commonly mounted on the trucks.The speed of the vehicle is controlled by varying the speed of theengine, by varying the strength generator and by connecting the motorsin series or parallel and varying the resistance in series therewith.

he engine is controlled by a hand actuated throttle valve. Changes inthe strength of the generator fieldand changes in the motor circuits areobtained by a drum controller which has an operating handle. As regardsthe latter changes they must take place in an invariable manner.Assuming that it be desired to propel the vehicle at say 40 miles perhour it can be accomplished by moving the throttle valve lever to oneposition and the controller handle to another position. These positionsof the throttle valve and controller handle produce, as a net result,the desired speed of the vehicle. This may mean for example that theengine is running very rapidly; that a certain amount of resistance hasbeen cut out of the field circuit of the generator and that the motorsare connected in parallel with or without resistance as the case may be.This same vehicle speed could, however, be produced by adjusting thethrottle lever to a position admitting less fuel to the engine, therebyreducing its speed and adjusting the controller handle to a positionwhere a different amountof resistance is included in the field circuitof the generator or a different relation of the motor circuits isproduced, or both. To state the matter in another way, the same vehiclespeed may be obtained by different settings of the controlling devices,one of which is more economical of fuel than the other. .From this itfollows that the economical or non-economical opder or cylinders.

eration of the vehicle is left almost, if not entirely, to the operatorwhose judgment may or may not be good.

An analogy is found in the automobile art. The operator may utilize thehigh speed gear and throttle the supply of gasolene to the engine togive the desired speed of the vehicle; or he may utilize theintermediate or other gear and run the engine faster to obtain the samevehicle speed. F or a given condition one arrangement is more economicalthan the other. Comparatively few operators, however, are able to drivea car under the most economical conditions all thetime.

My invention has for its object to overcome the shortcomings or defectsabove outlined in prior constructions and to provide a governingmechanism by which the best relation of engine speed and generatorconditions will be obtained for each and all speeds of the vehicle. Afurther object is to provide a governing mechanism for the purposedescribed in which the parts are so combined or associated that a singlehandle suffices to control the setting of all of them.

In the accompanying drawing is illustrated diagrammatically one of theembodi ments of my invention in which Figure l is a view of thecontrolling mechanism for .an internal combustion engine and electricgenerator; Fig. 2 is a detail view showing the pilot valve mechanism inone of its positions, and Fig. 3 is a detail view of the sameillustrating another of its positions.

4: indicates an internal combustion engine which may be of any suitablecharacter. It may use any suitable kind of fuel, such as gasolene,kerosene, or heavy oils for example. The admission of fuel to the engineis controlled by a regulator adapted to the needs of the particularengine employed. As illustrated it comprises a throttle valve 5 in theinlet pipe 6 leading to the enginecylin- On the spindle of the regulatoris a lever 7 that is normally urged to the full open position by thespring 8. The lever is moved in the opposite direction by a rod 9 thatis'provided with a motor piston 10 located in its cylinder 11.

12 indicates a speed governor of any suitable type that is driven by theengine, and whose sliding collar 13 moves the governor lever 14 againstthe action of the usual moves over the weights or spring as the case maybe. This governor should be so constructed and arranged as to hold thespeed of theiengin'e' constant within a suitable range for each settingoi the hand operated control lever. it should be capable oi controllingthe speed oi the engine from the minimum of 200 P, hit, for example, andall intermediate speeds up to the maximum of 550 R. P. hit, for example.The governor may be on the engine proper, on the generator, or betweenthe two. The principal thing is to have it responsive to speed changesof the" engine. The governor lever 14 is pivoted at 15 and has two lugson its upper side arranged to alternately engage the pilot valves, aswill appear later. Extending below the lever is an arm 16 to which isattached the coiled eX- tension spring 17. This spring in efiect formsan auxiliary part of the governor by means of which its setting oroperating range can be adjusted. The other end of the spring is attachedto the hand lever 18 that notched quadrant 19, said lever having aspring pressed latch 20 for engaging the notches and holding the leverin place. As shown the lever is in a midposition. Moving it to the rightwill decrease the spring tension and cause the speed of the engine todecrease. Moving it to the left will increase the spring tension andcause the speed of the engine to increase. In other words, the speedoperating range of the governor may beprogressively shifted from pointto point but for each setting of the governor spring 17, said governorwill hold the speed substantially constant.

21 indicates a tank containing fluid under pressure, which may be water,oil, air, or other fluid. Since it is necessary to have air underpressure on the vehicle for other purposes, it will be found convenientto use air for actuating the parts. 22 indicates a chest containingvalves 23 and 24:, the stems of which are united by a yoke at the bottomand are normally held on their seats by springs 25. Tn the chest 26 aresimilarly constructed valves 27 and 28. The valves 23 and 27 control thepassage of fluid to and from the right-hand end of the cylinder 11, andvalves 28 and 24: the passage of fluid to and from the left-hand end ofthe cylinder.

Driven by the' engine shaft is an electric generator 29 oi any suitableconstruction.

As here shown it is of the direct current shunt wound type having afield Winding 30. in circuit with the winding is an adjustableresistance or regulator 31, and itis to be noted that it is no longerassociated with the controller for the electric propelling motors asheretofore. Arranged to slide back and forth over the resistance in theregulator, to cut it into and out oi? circuit, is a contact 32 carriedby the rod 9. This resistance may be taken as typical of any suitableregulator the purpose described. Curapplicable for is delivered to thebus bar s 33 and 3a which supply current to the motors 35. These motorsare of the ordinary series wound type and may be connected in series orparallel for forward driving and reversing by the controller 36 whichmay be o't any ordinary or well known type now in use on street cars.3'? indicates the usual resistance for the motors 35, and the amountor": resistance in circuit is determined by the controller.

Assuming that it is desired to propel the vehicle at the rate of 40miles per hour on the level the handle 18 is set to the position shown,which position will produce an enginespeed to -give the desired carspeed. it the speed of the engine is too low to begn with the governorcollar 13 will drop and depress the right-hand end of thflever 14 as inFig. 3. This will openthe valves 23 and 2t and fluid un er pressure willflow from the tank 21 past the valve 23 into the right-hand end of thecylinderll causing the piston to move the rod 9 to the left. At the sametime the opening of the valve 24 permits fluid to exhaust from the otherend of the cylinder through the pipe 38. This movement of the rod 9 tothe left will act to bring the speed of the engine to the desired valuefor which the governor is set. H the regulator 5 is not already fullyopen, the end of the rod 9 will move so as to permit the spring 8 to"farther open it, thus admitting more fuel to the engine. After theregulator 5 is fully open, then the sliding contact 32 will act toincrease the amount of resistance in the field circuit of the generator,thus weakening the generator field until the proper relation of fieldstrength to armature speed is obtained. When the en- -gine speed asdetermined by the tension of spring 17 and speed governor 12 isobtained, the sliding collar 13 will move the lever 14 and release thevalves 23 and 24-. T1": the engine speed is too high for the position ofthe hand lever 18 when it is adjusted by the operator, the governor willraise the lever 14, as shown in Fig. 2, and open valves 27 and 28. Thiswill have the efiect of admitting fluid pressure to the left-hand er ofthe cylinder 11 permitting it to exhaust from theright-hand end by thepipe 39.

Assuming a given position out the hand lever 18, it the speed of theengine increases or decreases with respect to that determined by saidlever due to a change in load on the generator brought about by changesin the grade of the road bed or for any other reason, the speed governorwill raise or lower the outer end oi the lever 14 and cause it toactuate the pilot valves 23, 24 or 27, 28

lows that all the operator has to do is to ad"-' just the hand lever,the associated parts au very little skill.

tomatically moving to their proper positions. This, as will be'seen,leaves nothin to the judgment of the o rater except in c the circuits oft emow s; which requires It is tobenoteil that the range of operation ofthe speed governor is variable due to the action of the spring 17 andlever 18 and. that once said parts are set' it operates like an ordinaryvgovernor to maintain a,

constant speed. hen the engine "for any reason exceedsthe predeterminedspeed the:

governor causes the field of the generator tobe gradually strengthened.After the field has reached its maximum strength, the supply of fuel tothe engine will be throttled by governor action ifit be necessary tofurther decrease its speed. When the engine speed is too low for anyreason the supply of fuel to-the engine is increased and subsequentlythe strength of the field is decreased sumption, decrease the cost ofdepreciation I because of more efiectweuse, and to generby cutting inresistance, thus establishing the proper operating conditions. Inasmuchas variations in the supply ,of fuel to the engine and changes in fieldstrength of the generator take place successively, and in the oppositesense, it follows that the-en gine will be quickly brought to its properoperating speed.

By reason of my improved construction, I am able to effect economIes infuel conally improve the service received from the vehicle. It will benoted that the operator cannot adjust the field rheostat independentlyof the speed of the engine as heretofore and-that its action is whollya. func- 7 tion of the speed governor, and that the proper relation ofparts will be set once for all. Theoperatorhas merely to adjust thehandle 18 and the proper relation of parts is automatically established.In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I havedescribed the prinjciple of operation of my invention, together with theapparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof;but I desire to have it-understood that-the apparatus shown is onlyillustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.7 a

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the UnitedStates, is,

1. In a system of the character described, the combination of an engine,an electric generator driven thereby, means for regulating the supply offuel to the engine, a'

field resistance for the generator, and a common means for controllingboth the regulating means and the resistance, said common meanscomprising a movable member WlllCh acts on said regulating means andanging the regulating means is first operated and then the fieldresistance iscut in, and a speed governor for'controlling the movementsof said me her. a

3. In a system of the character described, the combination of an engine,an electric generator driven thereby, means .for regulatmg t e supply offuel to the engine, a field res stance for the generator, and a commonmetns for controlling both the regulatmg means and the resistance, saidcommon means c mprlslng a movable member which acts on idregulatingmeans and resistance successively sothat with increase in load theregulating means is first operated and then the field resistance is cutin, a speed governor for controlling the movement of said member, andmeans for changin the setting of the governor to obtain di erent-andconstant Speeds of the engine.

4. In a system/of the character described, the combination of an engine,a regulator v regulating means and resistance .successlvely so that w1thincrease in load therefor, an electric generator driven bythe engine, aregulator therefor, means that acts onsald regulators successively sothat with increase 111 load the first named regulator is actuated priorto the second,'a speed governor that controls the action of the means,an auxiliary spring for the governor, and a hand lever for changing thetension of the sprmi 1 5. w a system for controlling. a motor carwherein an engine drives a generator which in turn supplles current tothe car motors,

the combination with the engine, the generator, and the motor, of meansfor automatlcally controlling the engine and generator to maintain theengine at a constant predetermined speed, and. two controllers,

one of which regulates the motor connections, and the other of whichregulates said means to set it for different engine speeds.

6. In a system for controlling a motoncar whereln an engine drives agenerator which in turn supplies current to the car motors,

the combination with the engine, the generator, and the motor, of aregulator for the engine, a regulator for the generator, means whichacts on said re later successively so that with increase in Ie ad thefirst named regulator is actuated prior to vthe second, a speed governorwhich controls s aid means,

' a controller forchanging .the setting of the governor, \and a secondcontroller which re ulates the motor connectlons.

In a system for controlling a motor car wherein an engine drives agenerator which in turn supplies current to the car motors,

the combination with the engine, the generator, and the motor, of meansfor regu- 7 means for controllin and then the field resistance is cutin, a controller for said common means, and a controller for regulatingthe motor connections.

8. In a system for controlling a motor car wherein an engine drives agenerator which in turn supplies current to the car motors, thecombination with the engine, the generator, and the motor, of a va vemedhams'm for regulating the supply of fuel to the engme, a fieldresistance device for the generator, a common means valve mechanism andresistance device, and means acting onincrease in load to first open thevalve mechanism and then cut in resistance, a speed governor forcontrolling said common means, a controller for changing the setting ofthe governor, and a second controller for regulating the motorconnections. r In witness whereof, I have hereunto set iny hand thistwenty-second day of June,

HER-MANN LEMP. Witnesses:

O'rro F. PERssoN,

- O. T. Fouonn.

for actuating the g

